Background: Intrinsic capacity (IC) is key for healthy aging. Evidence on sustained, domain-specific effects of multicomponent programs in routine community settings is limited. Prospective, non-randomized controlled study; group assignment depended on program access and enrollment. Six senior communities in China operated by a Chinese insurance company. Communities were convenience-sampled. Participants were recruited via posters and public lectures. Eligible community-dwelling adults were aged ≥75 years. The intervention group joined a 12-month face-to-face group program (80 min, twice weekly) combining exercise training, cognitive training, nutritional counselling, and chronic disease management. Controls received one health-guidance session after baseline and usual care. IC was measured at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Linear mixed-effects models estimated adjusted means and between-group differences at 6 and 12 months. Holm correction was applied within each outcome. 294 participants were included (173 intervention; 121 control). Mean age was 85.6 ± 4.4 years and 65% were women. Baseline IC was 8.2 ± 1.0. Adjusted IC was higher in the intervention group at 6 months (β = 0.33, 95% CI 0.11–0.56; Holm P = 0.008) and 12 months (β = 0.33, 0.10–0.56; Holm P = 0.008). Locomotion improved (β = 1.68, 95% CI 1.11–2.25 at 6 months; β = 2.05, 95% CI 1.46–2.63 at 12 months; both Holm P < 0.001). Vitality improved at 6 months only (β = 0.52, 95% CI 0.16–0.88; Holm P = 0.009). Cognition and psychology showed no significant between-group effects after Holm adjustment. A community-based multicomponent program was linked to sustained IC improvement, mainly through locomotion, while vitality benefits were short-term. Approved by Peking Union Medical College Hospital Ethics Committee (I-23PJ215), registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2300075477). • A 12-month, community-based multicomponent group program was associated with higher IC at both 6 and 12 months versus health guidance. • Benefits were driven mainly by sustained gains in locomotion (SPPB), showing the most consistent and clinically interpretable improvement across follow-up. • This study enrolled older-old adults (≥75 years) with established IC decline, a high-risk group often underrepresented in intervention studies, and recruited them from senior communities with relatively uniform care and support, reducing variability in background services.
Zhou et al. (Wed,) studied this question.